South Africa proposes tougher measures to regulate gambling

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies says the South African government aims to tighten gambling enforcement.

South Africa.- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has published the National Gambling Amendment Bill for public comment, and alongside with the National Liquor Amendment Bill, people will have 45 days to comment on them. According to the Minister, they want to help strengthen the enforcement and regulation of the two industries in order to minimise the social ills that are usually associated with them.

Rob Davies said that whilst the gambling industry contributes significantly to the country’s GDP and jobs, it still can’t help the fact that it has a negative effect on gambling addiction. He also commented that in 2014, South Africans lost more than €1.1 billion in casino activities.

The amendment bill wants the National Gambling Board to become the national gambling regulator, with a statutory body headed by a CEO located within the DTI. The bill also provides further restrictions on gambling advertising to ensure that there is a prohibition to unsolicited messages that are directed towards vulnerable people.